Gulf Coast clean-up 19
I drove up the West Coast from Arizona in the late 1980s and stopped for a short stroll on the beach in Santa Barbara. i was amazed to see the tar on the bottom of my shoes. It was a remnant from a spill that…
I drove up the West Coast from Arizona in the late 1980s and stopped for a short stroll on the beach in Santa Barbara. i was amazed to see the tar on the bottom of my shoes. It was a remnant from a spill that…
GOP primary narrows.Don Benton, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, last week on staying in the race despite Rossi's entry:“We can no longer look to the establishment to turn our economy and our country around. The people want an independent voice that will take on both…
This University of Washington Poll is pretty interesting, because it segregates Tea Party diehards from those who are somewhat sympathetic on some issues. Thought the libertarians here would be interested in this observation from Bruce Bartlett.What I think this poll shows is that taxes and…
Only 1 percent of respondents could name all nine Supreme Court justices. Two-thirds could not name a single one.In a related note, "Nightline" scored its highest ratings since its re-launch in 2005 with its interview with Jesse James. You know, the guy who cheated on…
Open thread.
Rasmussen poll reports that Dino Rossi's formal announcement hasn't broken the tie between him and his target, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray. Check it out here. With half a dozen Republicans possibly in the contest, I also have to wonder if Washington's top-two primary will produce…
Here is our editorial on the topic.Here is what the reports look like on the Boise ombudsman's Web site.Here is the Monday council meeting (click on "City Council meetings:, then select May 24th), which had a lot of emotional comments from citizens about their interactions…
Holly Pickett, a former staff photographer here, has one of the best blogs I've seen. Helps that she shoots such compelling photos in such newsworthy hotspots as Afghanistan and Iraq. She's in Iraq now and recently had a photo on the front page of The…
Looks like Dino Rossi will challenge Patty Murray, though Tea Party appears to favor Clint Didier. Should be interesting. Meanwhile this Washington Poll has fodder for discussion, including:1. Murray edging Rossi, though it's early and he hadn't officially announced.2. State income tax initiative holding wide…
According to my calendar, it is Victoria Day in Canada, which is pegged to Queen Victoria's birthday and is the official start of summer up north. So, happy Canada Summer Day!This is an open thread.
That's the question from Brit Hume here. He ought to take a look at these images.Video here.Live camera here.
Congressional report shows what it would take to sustain it. Here are some options. Doesn't look so daunting to me. For instance:Modify the Social Security tax cap. Workers pay into the Social Security system on earnings up to $106,800 in 2010. About 83 percent of…
Blogger notes frequency of Muslim winners. Commenters take it from there. Who is Daniel Pipes? Noted here.Some liberals critique the very fact that these events take place. This neocon doesn't mind that, but he wonders about the process for picking winners.To repeat the title: Is…
Open thread. Have at it.
That's the rationale for the Supremes striking down state laws that put people younger than 18 in prison for life without the possibility of parole for crimes that come up short of murder.Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, speaking for the court, said a life prison term…
Put your thoughts on the health care debate in this thread here. I'll update this as needed and keep it on the blog's "front page."UPDATE: Here is a handy chart on how the health care bill might affect you.UPDATE: UW Law School holds debate on…
Real threat? Hoax? Too expensive to fix? Too dire not to?Put your thoughts here, and I'll keep it on the blog's Front Page.
What is "basic education?" What should be included/excluded? How to fix it? How to pay for it? Should the feds have a role?Put your education thoughts here, and I'll keep in on the front page.UPDATE: Only two states -- Delaware and Tennessee -- are awarded…
Why? Probably for the way the department handled an in-custody death of a mentally ill man. That saga lasted 3 1/2 years. Sounds familiar. It didn't help that the chief criticized some budget cuts.So there's that intersection of mental illness and criminal justice again.Jason Renaud,…
Stock market continues wild ride. Obama makes his Supreme choice. Attempt to cap oil gusher fails.Comment on these or anything else in this open thread.
What are your thoughts on incarceration in the United States and the ongoing Spokane County jail discussion?My thoughts are here and here.
So, when is Cinco de Mayo this year? And who really is buried in Grant's Tomb?
Nearly half of households paid no federal income taxes for 2009. Before that the top two rates were lowered.About 47 percent will pay no federal income taxes at all for 2009. Either their incomes were too low, or they qualified for enough credits, deductions and…
So the Arizona governor signed the bill that allows law enforcement to ask for papers if they have "reasonable suspicion." What are the reasonable "tells" of illegal immigrants? The governor said she didn't know.UPDATE: Arizona lawmakers modify law over profiling concerns. Now race cannot be…
Newsroom just heard on the police scanner that a tree blew down and is on fire. Guess that tops my plight: lost a section of backyard fence. If there's one place I always lose, it's fence politics. I've replaced the north and south sides at…
A Matter of Opinion is really a matter of three opinions – those held by the people responsible for the opinion pages of The Spokesman-Review. Check in regularly to find out what they’re up to, what they think and where they differ and to joust with them if you want.
Dec. 2010 | Nov. 2010 | Oct. 2010 | Sept. 2010 |
Aug. 2010 | July 2010 | June 2010 | May 2010 |
April 2010 | March 2010 | Feb. 2010 | Jan. 2010 |